French Cinema
The influence of France on the world screen is undeniable. From early inventors and pioneers such as the Lumiere Brothers, George Melies and Alice Guy Blache, the birth of cinema can virtually be traced back to French shores. Cinematic innovators such as Jean Renoir and Michael Carne followed. By the 1960s New Wave directors like Truffaut, Godard and Chabrol had an indelible impact on fledgling American film makers such as Scorsese, Coppola and Bogdanovich who revolutionised the way films were made in the US; studios fell, auteurs ruled. With the advent of television, French film budgets shrank but thanks to government intervention and a good deal of imagination, French cinema is still going strong with contemporary talents like Jean-Jaques Beineix, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Luc Besson and the controversial Gaspar Noe.
At Alice we're very proud of our extensive French collection, covering all genres from French farce to period drama, magical realism to mystery and suspense. Viva la France!
Naughty Girl (1956)
5.9/10
Director: Michel Boisrond
Starring: Brigitte Bardot, Jean Bretonniere, Francoise Fabian
Nymphet Brigitte Bardot is cast here as a wide-eyed innocent, who, while her father hides out from the police, is protected by nightclub singer Jean... Read more
Nelly and Mr Arnaud (1995)
Director: Claude Sautet
Starring: Emmanuelle Beart, Michel Serrault, Claire Nadeau
Almost a follow-up to director Claude Sautet's 'A Heart in Winter'. A subtle, beautifully acted story of a 25 year old woman in debt and stuck in a n... Read more
Nicholas on Holiday ( + Little Nicholas ) (2014)
6.2/10
Director: Laurent Tirard
Starring: Valerie Lemercier, Kad Merad, Dominique Lavanant, Francois-Xavier Demaison, Boul...
Nicholas, his parents and Granny hit the road, heading for the sea, and stay in the Beau-Rivage Hotel. At the beach, Nicholas wastes little time makin... Read more
Night Shift (2001)
6.5/10
Director: Philippe Le Guay
Starring: Gerald Laroche, Bastien Le Roy
A tense psychological thriller set during the night shift in a small bottle factory. When Pierre takes on a second job at the factory, he is initially... Read more
Nikita ( La Femme Nikita ) (1990)
7.7/10
Director: Luc Besson
Starring: Anne Parillaud, Jean Reno, Jean-Hugues Anglade, Jeanne Moreau, Tcheky Karyo, Jea...
Wildly violent, borderline psychopathic Nikita (Anne Parillaud) is a street punk who'll do anything for a fix - even murder a cop at point blank. Resc... Read more
Nocturne Indien (1989)
6.9/10
Director: Alain Corneau
Starring: Jean-Hugues Anglade, Clementine Celarie, Otto Tausig, TP Jain
A young Frenchman goes in search of his friend after he goes missing in India in this reflective and sensually photographed drama from French director... Read more
Non Fiction (2018)
6.5/10
Director: Olivier Assayas
Starring: Guillaume Canet, Juliette Binoche, Vincent Macaigne
Set in the Parisian publishing world, an editor and an author find themselves in over their heads, as they cope with a middle-age crisis, the changing... Read more
Normandy Nude (2018)
Director: Philippe Le Guay
Starring: Francois Cluzet, Francois-Xavier Demaison, Julie-Anne Roth
A French mayor has to convince his villagers to pose naked for an American photographer. Read more
Not Here to Be Loved (Je ne suis pas là pour être aimé) (2005)
7.1/10
Director: Stephane Brize
Starring: Patrick Chesnais, Anne Consigny, Georges Wilson, Lionel Abelanski, Genevieve Mni...
The (love) life of a man fed up with his work and life routine changes when he enlists into a tango dancing course. Read more
Nothing to Declare (2010)
6.3/10
Director: Dany Boon
Starring: Karin Viard, Benoit Poelvoorde, Dany Boon, Francois Damiens, Laurent Gamelon, Ju...
When the news drops about the opening of the E.C. borders between France and Belgium in the early 90s, a loud cry of panic goes up on both sides of t... Read more